Locking construction for telescoping container elements

ABSTRACT

A locking construction for telescoping container sections, each of which comprises a pair of end panel portions in folded facing relationship with a side flap panel extending therebetween. The inner of the end panel elements is Walker-locked to a main panel. A locking tab is formed by a perforated score in either the inner or outer panel element, and a forcing tab is formed in the flap, it being folded out of the plane thereof and forcing the locking tab out of the plane of the panel portion in which it is formed.

United States Patent Rada 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] LOCKING CONSTRUCTION FOR3,536,249 10/1970 Houston ..229/45 TELESCOPING CONTAINER ELEMENTSPrimary ExaminerJames B. Marbert Attorney-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg[72] Inventor: Joseph J. Rada, Country Club Hills, Ill. [73] Assignee:Container Corporation of America, [57] ABSTRACT Chlcago, A lockingconstruction for telescoping container sections, [22] Filed: Jam 5, 1970each of which comprises a pair of end panel portions in folded facingrelationship with a side flap panel extending PP 662 therebetween. Theinner of the end panel elements is Walkerlocked to a main panel. Alocking tab is formed by a per- 52 05. Cl ..229/4s formed Score ineither the inner or Outer Panel element, and a 5 5 45 04 forcing tab isformed in the flap, it being folded out of the 53 plane thereof andforcing the locking tab out of the plane of the panel portion in whichit is formed. 56 R C'ted 1 e mm 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,307,769 3/1967 Bamburg "229 /45 PATENTEI] FEB 15 I872sum 2 20F 2 56 57 5 59 29 37 ar I 48 49 1 3a ar 5 "fi J L INVENTOR.JOSEPH J. RAD/1 FH E.

LOCKING CONSTRUCTION FOR TELESCOPING CONTAINER ELEMENTS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generallyto telescoping containers having structure for locking the container topto the bottom thereof. It is particularly directed to a lockingstructure for a container having double thickness folded end panels witha flap extending therebetween, one of the panels being provided with alocking tab forced into locking position by a forcing tab extending fromsaid flap.

2. The Prior Art DEsposito U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,282 is an example of acontainer body formed with a locking tab cooperating with an opening inthe container cover. The locking engagement may readily be released bypressing the fingers at the openings to move the locking tab to releaseposition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure according to the presentinvention comprehends a container having a telescoping lid or closurewhich is self-locking, or a one-piece telescoping container withstructure enabling the telescoping halves to be locked together.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a container and lockingstructure in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the container in setup condition;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for constructing the container of FIG.1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

The improved locking construction according to the present invention isembodied in a container seen in FIG. 1 and denoted by the referencenumeral 10. The same is formed from a blank 10A seen in FIG. 3, whichwhen folded forms a telescoped bottom or body section 11 and atelescoping top or cover section 12 as seen in FIG. 2. Blank 10A seen inFIG. 3 comprises a main cover panel 13 connected by a score line 14 to aback panel 16. The main bottom panel 18 is connected by a fold line 17to the back panel 16.

The construction of the telescoped or bottom section 11 will first bedescribed, and such telescoped section 11 comprises a bottom end panel19consisting of an inner end panel portion 21 and an outer end panelportion 22, the two end penal portions 21 and 22 being foldablyconnected along spaced fold lines 23. A fold line 24 foldably connectsthe outer end panel portion 22 to the main bottom panel 18.

The main bottom panel 18 has a pair of opposed side panels 26 extendingtherefrom, these being foldably connected thereto along fold lines 27.

Each side panel 26 has flap 28 extending therefrom, flap 28 beingfoldably connected to the side panel 26 at a fold line 29.

The two panel portions 21 and 22 are adapted to be folded uponthemselves along fold lines 23, and inner end panel portion 21 is lockedinto position with respect to the bottom panel 18 by means of panellocking tabs 31 entering Walker slots 32 formed in bottom panel 18.

The outer end panel portion 22 is provided with a cover locking tab 33defined by cut lines 34 to give locking tab 33 an essentiallyrectangular configuration, locking tab 33 being also defined by one ofthe fold lines 23.

The flaps 28 are each adapted to enter between the two end panelportions 21 and 22, and each tab 28 is provided with a forcing tab 36defined by spaced cut lines 37 intersecting the edge of the flap 28. andby a perforated score line 38 parallel to the edge ofthe flap 28.

Prior to locking the outer end panel portion 22 within the Walker slot32, forcing tab 36 is first folded out from the plane of the flap 28.Forcing tab 36 is thus adapted to swing the cover locking tab 33 out ofthe plane of the outer end panel portion 22, as seen more particularlyin FIG. 6.

The telescoping or cover section is constructed in a manner similar tothe telescoped or bottom section 11. Main cover panel 13 thereof isprovided with a cover end panel 39. The latter consists of an inner endcover panel portion 41 and an outer end cover panel portion 42, the twopanel portions 41 and 42 being foldably connected along spaced foldlines 43. Fold line 44 foldably connects outer end cover panel portion42 to the main cover panel 13.

Main cover panel 13 has opposed side panels 46 which are foldablyconnected thereto along fold lines 47. Each side panel 46 has a flap 48extending foldably with respect thereto along a fold line 49. The twoend panel portions 41 and 42 are foldable with respect to each otheralong the spaced fold lines 43 into facing relationship, and the innerend cover panel portion 41 is provided with a pair of panel locking tabs51, each being adapted to be locked with a Walker slot 52 formed in thecover panel 13.

Inner cover panel portion 41 is provided with bottom locking tabs 53defined by a out line 54 and one of the score lines 43 to define anessentially rectangular lock tab.

As with the telescoping body section 11, previously described, the flaps48 are adapted to extend between the inner and outer cover panelportions 41 and 42 when the same are in side by side relationship. EAchof the flaps 48 are provided with a forcing tab 56 defined by spaced outlines 57 intersecting the edge of the tab 48 and a perforated score line58 parallel to the edge of such flap 48. The forcing tabs 56 are eachfolded with respect to the tab 48 and extend from the plane of tab 48and bear against the bottom locking tab 53 to cause the latter to foldout of the plane of the inner end cover panel portion 41, as seen moreparticularly in FIG. 6.

The opposed side panels 46 are each provided with a flap 59 foldablewith respect thereto along a fold line 61, each of the flaps 59 beingfolded against the back panel 16 during assembly of the container shown.

It will be seen with particular reference to FIG. 6 that the bottomlocking tab 53 moves into an abutting relationship with cover lockingtab 33 when the parts are assembled in the manner described.

The construction just described results in a container havingtelescoping container elements with a locking device thereby insuringagainst unintended separation of the top and bottom sections thereof.

lclaim:

1. A telescoping container having a. an inner telescoped section;

b. an outer telescoping section;

c. each of said sections comprising:

i. a main panel; ii. opposed side panels; iii. at least one end panel;

d. said end panel being formed of i. inner and outer panel portionsfoldably connected and foldable upon themselves;

e. each of said opposed side panels having a flap hingedly connectedthereto and foldable to position between said inner and outer end panelportions;

f. a locking tab in one of said end panel portions extending out of theplane of such end panel portion;

g. a forcing tab in at least one of said flaps foldable to position toengage said locking tab to force the same to a position out of the planeof such end panel portion.

2. A telescoping container according to claim 1 wherein said inner panelportion is provided with means for locking the same to its main panel.

3. A telescoping container according to claim 1 wherein the locking tabof the telescoped section extends from the outer end panel portionthereof, and the locking tab of said telescoping section extends fromthe inner end panel portion i. a flap foldably connected thereto andfoldable to posithereof to be in locking engagement with the otherlocking tion between said inner and outer panel portions;

e. a locking tab in one of said end panel portions extending 4. Alocking construction for telescoping containers comout fth m th f;

Pnsmg: l 5 f. a forcing tab in at least one of said flaps and foldableto a.amampane; l tbt f th t b. an end panel hingedly connected to saidmain panel; gg fzgi gg g 3 g g s g me o a posmon out c. said end panelconsisting of inner and outer end panel portions foldably interconnectedand foldable upon themselves;

d. a side panel foldably connected to said main panel and having,

5. A locking construction according to claim 4 wherein said inner panelportion is provided with means for locking the same to said main panel.

1. A telescoping container having a. an inner telescoped section; b. anouter telescoping section; c. each of said sections comprising: i. amain panel; ii. opposed side panels; iii. at least one end panel; d.said end panel being formed of i. inner and outer panel portionsfoldably connected and foldable upon themselves; e. each of said opposedside panels having a flap hingedly connected thereto and foldable toposition between said inner and outer end panel portions; f. a lockingtab in one of said end panel portions extending out of the plane of suchend panel portion; g. a forcing tab in at least oNe of said flapsfoldable to position to engage said locking tab to force the same to aposition out of the plane of such end panel portion.
 2. A telescopingcontainer according to claim 1 wherein said inner panel portion isprovided with means for locking the same to its main panel.
 3. Atelescoping container according to claim 1 wherein the locking tab ofthe telescoped section extends from the outer end panel portion thereof,and the locking tab of said telescoping section extends from the innerend panel portion thereof to be in locking engagement with the otherlocking tab.
 4. A locking construction for telescoping containerscomprising: a. a main panel; b. an end panel hingedly connected to saidmain panel; c. said end panel consisting of inner and outer end panelportions foldably interconnected and foldable upon themselves; d. a sidepanel foldably connected to said main panel and having, i. a flapfoldably connected thereto and foldable to position between said innerand outer panel portions; e. a locking tab in one of said end panelportions extending out of the plane thereof; f. a forcing tab in atleast one of said flaps and foldable to engage said locking tab to forcethe same to a position out of the plane of such end panel portion.
 5. Alocking construction according to claim 4 wherein said inner panelportion is provided with means for locking the same to said main panel.